Method of producing electrolyte enriched plant embryos

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to plant embryos having an increased electrolyte content as compared to embryos germinated in tap water, as well as to a method of producing these plant embryos, wherein germinative seeds are germinated in an electrolyte solution.

The invention relates to plant embryos as well as to a method of producing the same.

The present food supply as well as the consumption behavior is characterized by foodstuffs having a high content of calories while simultaneously having a low portion of dietary fibre and a low nutrient density (a low content of vitamins, bulk elements, trace elements, bioactive plant substances etc.). Thus, the foodstuffs preferably consumed, such as fine flour products (bread, baked goods, egg pasta, confectioneries), sugar and sugar-containing foodstuffs (sweets, sugar-containing lemonades), fast food, and foodstuffs having a high content of animal proteins, only insufficiently cover the demand for dietary fibres, and in particular, for vitamins, bulk elements and trace elements. The consequence of this consumption behavior is a continuously increasing percentage of nutritionally caused and nutritionally dependent diseases, such as overweight, chronic defaecation problems, hypertension with elevated blood lipid and triglyceride concentrations, dysglycemia, hepathic and bilious affections, circulatory disturbances, diseases of the digestive organs, caries, rheumatic diseases, gout, skin diseases, allergies and disturbances of the immune defence system.

In parallel to the devitaminization and demineralization of frequently consumed staples (e.g. caused by the refining of the various cereal flours and vegetable oils), statistically there is a continuously increasing contamination of the staples with foreign and harmful substances (organohalogen compounds, agrochemicals, such as pesticides, growth regulating agents, germination inhibiting agents and fertilizers, heavy metals, medicament residues, phytotoxins etc.).

Last but not least, for reasons of production technology, the basic substances of foodstuffs are admixed with colorants, preservatives, antioxidants, emulsifiers, stabilizing agents, thickeners, gelating agents, modifying starches, acidifying agents, acid regulators, separating agents, coating agents, dip-coating masses, enhancers, flavors, sugar substitutes, artificial sweeteners and other technological substances.

To counteract this deterioration of the nutritional situation or these negative developments of the nutritional behavior, more and more consumers are interested in changing these nutritional habits and to increasingly consume natural foodstuffs which enable a sufficient supply with dietary fibres, mineral and trace elements, vitamins, vegetable proteins etc. (so-called "whole-food nutrition").

Whole-food nutrition mainly consists of ecologically produced vegetable foodstuffs, isolated or refined products being avoided as far as possible.

Plant embryos meet the principles of high-value nutrition, both in terms of nutrition physiology and in terms of ecology. Compared to ungerminated seeds, the plant embryo has a better quality of protein, a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, an improved bioavailability of essential minerals, and a higher vitamin and dietary fibre content. Moreover, a plurality of negatively valued components in the seed, such as trypsin inhibitors, hemagglutinins, saponins, flatulent substances etc., decrease with an increasing duration of germination.

Thus, plant embryos constitute a valuable enrichment of the food, particularly since they are inexpensive as compared to vegetable varieties, they are always fresh, independent of seasons, rich in dietary fibres, rich in vitamins and minerals, and in addition tasty and wholesome.

In general, the plant growing from a grain of seed is called a plant embryo for the first few days of germination. Prior to germination, the pre-formed plant embryo in the seed is in a state of rest in which all metabolic processes are reduced to a minimum, and there is no growth. The swelling process starts with the uptake of water into the seed, thereby causing the activity of the metabolic processes. The seed shell, which until then has been impermeable to oxygen, becomes respiratorily active, phytohormones (in particular gibberellic acid) are synthesized within the plant embryo, and these in turn stimulate the synthesis of specifically active enzymes. These enzymes degrade the reserve substances stored in the seed in amounts specific of the respective type (Meier-Ploeger "Die Bedeutung von Sprossen und Keimen in der Vollwerternahrung", Ernahrung/Nutrition (6) (1990), 317-323).

Numerous studies have been carried out on the changes of the content of the components of the plant embryo as compared to the seed, these studies often being contradictory. It is not clear to what extent these discrepancies are due to differences in the nature of the starting material, the conditions of germination or the method of determining the nutritional value (Harmuth-Hoene et al., "Der Einfluss der Keimung auf den Nahrwert von Weizen, Mungbohnen und Kichererbsen", Z. Lebensm. Unters. Forsch., 1985 (1987), 386-393).

Also the data on the changes of the mineral content of plant embryos are contradictory. There seems to be agreement on the fact that, depending on the solubility of the minerals, very different losses of minerals may occur during germination. Thus, various authors have observed a decrease of iron in an amount of from 9 to 21%, of potassium in an amount of 27%, and of copper in an amount of between 12 and 17% (Hartmuth-Hoene (1987)).

Furthermore, also high losses of calcium and magnesium have been reported in the course of germination.

The present invention thus has as its object to provide plant embryos improved in terms of nutrition physiology relative to conventional plant embryos.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by plant embryos having a higher electrolyte content as compared to germination in tap water.

The plant embryos according to the invention have a content increased by at least 10 to 20%, preferably by at least the 1.5 to 3-fold, in particular by at least the 5 to 10-fold, of one or several electrolytes, preferably of zinc, iron, potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, strontium, selenium, molybdenum, chromium, arsenic, vanadium and/or cobalt ions, as compared to conventionally germinated seeds.

Hitherto, conventional seed germination in which the seeds were germinated in distilled water or in tap water, always involved partly considerable losses of these nutritionally important components. As the tests accompanying the present invention revealed, these losses were caused both by the starting metabolic process of the plant embryo itself, and by the nature of the swelling agent water which contributed to an additional electrolyte leach-out of the plant embryo, since in contrast to the at-rest state (seed), the shell of the plant embryo is very well susceptive to electrolyte leach-out.

Furthermore, it has been shown that the electrolyte-enriched plant embryos according to the invention do not only exhibit a higher concentration of minerals, but, on account of the increased mineral content, are also generally improved in terms of their components, e.g. they have a higher vitamin content.

A preferred production method of the plant embryos according to the invention consists in that germinative seeds are introduced into an electrolyte solution, and the plant embryos are incubated in this electrolyte solution at a suitable temperature for a period of time sufficient to achieve electrolyte enrichment in the plant embryos.

It was surprising that by using an electrolyte solution, i.e. a solution having an increased ion concentration, in contrast to conventional germination solutions (tap water or distilled or sterilized water), the electrolyte losses occurring in the course of germination could be compensated or even reversed by an electrolyte flow from the germination solution into the plant embryos, whereby plant embryos formed which partly even had an increased content of electrolytes as compared to the seed.

By electrolyte solution there is further meant an aqueous solution admixed or enriched with one or several electrolytes, as defined below.

With the production method according to the invention, the ion concentration of the electrolyte solution is to be higher by at least 10 to 20% than that of conventional tap water, preferably the ion concentration of the electrolyte solution at least in terms of iron and/or copper and/or manganese and/or strontium and/or lithium and/or molybdenum ions is twice as high as that of conventional tap water, particularly preferably at least five times as high, in particular at least ten times as high.

The temperature suitable for carrying out the germination is, of course, different for each type of seed. In principle, the germination temperature described in the prior art for the respective type of seed is also to be applied for the method according to the invention. Preferably, this temperature ranges between 10° and 50° C., in particular between 20° and 30° C.

The time required to achieve a sufficient electrolyte enrichment in the plant embryos is also different for each type of embryo, it also depends on which electrolyte values are to be attained in the embryo. Here, too, the germination periods described in the prior art for a certain type are to be taken as standard values, preferably thus germination is carried out during a period of approximately 12 to 120 hours, in particular approximately 60 to 100 hours.

It goes without saying that both the germination temperature and the germination period can be optimised for each system by a skilled artisan without problems by simple tests, and for certain types that may very well lie above or below the standard values indicated above.

According to the invention, the preferred plant embryos are the embryos of common vegetable foodstuffs, in particular the embryos of leguminosae and cereal seeds. Thus, particularly preferred are the embryos of wheat, buckwheat, quinoa, mung bean, fenugreek, radish, alfalfa, maize, squash, rye, barley, rice, adzuki-beans, peas, millet, chick pea, cress, linseed, lentil, mustard, sesamum, soybean, sunflower and amaranth.

According to a preferred embodiment, the electrolyte solution used in the method according to the invention contains 1 mg/l or more, preferably 10 mg/l or more, in particular 50 mg/l or more, zinc and/or iron and/or potassium and/or magnesium ions, 0.5 mg/l or more, preferably 5 mg/l or more, in particular 25 mg/l or more, copper and/or manganese and/or strontium and/or lithium ions, 0.1 mg/l or more, preferably 1 mg/l or more, in particular 5 mg/l or more, selenium and/or molybdenum and/or chromium and/or arsenic and/or vanadium and/or cobalt ions, with the proviso that the ion concentration of the electrolyte solution differs in at least one ion species from the ion concentration of tap water by at least 10 to 20%. p A particularly preferred electrolyte solution contains at least 0.5 mg/l copper and/or 1 mg/l zinc and/or 0.1 mg/l cobalt ions and preferably at least 0.1 mg/l molybdenum and/or 0.5 mg/l lithium and/or 1 mg/l selenium and/or 1 mg/l vanadium ions.

After their production, depending on their intended purpose, the electrolyte-enriched plant embryos according to the invention may be washed, dried, and possibly further processed in a manner suitable for sale thereof. Particularly preferred is the processing of the plant embryos according to the invention to fresh food, sandwich spreads, to bakery goods or to snack-type food or food supplements in the form of mueslis, chewing tablets, capsules or liquids.

Another aspect of the present invention is the treatment and prevention of nutritionally caused or nutritionally dependent diseases in humans and animals, such as overweight, chronic defaecation problems, hypertension with elevated blood lipid and triglyceride concentrations, dysglycemia, hepathic and bilious affections, circulatory disturbances, diseases of the digestive organs, caries, rhuematic diseases, gout, skin diseases, allergies and disturbances of the immune defence system, devitaminization or demineralization syndromes, which treatment or prevention comprises the administration of plant embryos produced according to the present invention or processed products derived from such plant embryos. The amount to be administered is highly dependent on the disease (or the stage of the disease) to be treated or prevented, it should, of course, be sufficient to achieve a suitable effectiveness.

The invention will be explained in more detail by way of the following examples and the associated drawings, to which, however, it shall not be restricted.

FIG. 1 shows the enrichment of trace elements during germination of wheat;

FIG. 2 shows the enrichment of trace elements during germination of buckwheat,

FIG. 3 shows the enrichment of trace elements during germination of quinoa; and

FIG. 4 shows the chromatographic vitamin B1 determination in a standard solution with 104 μg/g thiamine hydrochloride and in the sample BoS6 (fenugreek embryos after 3 days of germination).

EXAMPLES

1. Enrichment of Trace Elements During Germination of Wheat, Buckwheat and Quinoa

1.1 Germination

Germinative seeds of wheat (Triticum aestivum), buckwheat (Fogpyrum esculentum) and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) were used for the germination experiments. Approximately 90 g of the three different cereal seeds were each germinated with five different solutions: (1) double-distilled water, (2) tap water, (3) electrolyte solution 1, (4) electrolyte solution 2 and (5) electrolyte solution 3 (cf. Table 1). To produce the electrolyte solutions, only p.a. chemicals and double-distilled water were used.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Trace element concentrations of the                                            electrolyte solutions used                                                                  Electrolyte          Electrolyte                                               solutions            solutions                                                 c[mg/l]              c[mg/l]                                      Substance    1      2      3    Element                                                                              1   2    3                               ______________________________________                                         Zinc sulfate x                                                                              4.40   44.0   220  Zn    1.0 10   50                              7H.sub.2 O                                                                     Ammonium Ferric                                                                             8, 95  89, 5  447  Fe    1.0 10   50                              sulfate                                                                        Manganese    1.48   14.8   74   Mn    0.5 5    25                              chloride                                                                       Copper gluco-                                                                               3.57   35.7   178  Cu    0.5 5    25                              nate                                                                           Sodium sclecate                                                                             0.24   2.4    12   Sc    0.1 1    5                               Sodium molyb-                                                                               0.25   2.5    12.5 Mo    0.1 1    5                               date                                                                           Chromic      0.51   5.1    25.5 Cr    0.1 1    5                               chloride                                                                       Strontium    1.69   16.9   84.5 Sr    0.5 5    25                              lactate                                                                        Lithion      2.68   26.8   134  Li    0.5 5    25                              carbonate                                                                      Disodium     0.56   5.6    28   As    0.1 1    5                               arcenate                                                                       Ammoniumvanadade                                                                            0.23   2.3    11.5 V     0.1 1    5                               Cobalt chloride ×                                                                     0.40   4.0    20   Co    0.1 1    5                               6H.sub.2 O                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

Prior to the germination phase as such, the wheat seed was soaked in the respective solutions for 12 hours and the quinoa seed for 8 hours. The buckwheat seed was used without previous soaking.

Germination took place at room temperature (19° to 21° C.) and normal day-night light ratios in commercial germinators consisting of transparent, superimposed plastics dishes with drainage means. The total germination period (soaking time+germination time) was 96 hours for wheat and quinoa, 72 hours for buckwheat. During germination, the plant embryos were flushed twice daily with the respective solutions (250 ml/90 g). After the harvest, all the plant embryos were thoroughly flushed with double-distilled water (3×with ca. 800 ml) and aliquoted. One portion of the sample was immediately filled into little plastic bags and deep-frozen at -18° C. The other portion of the sample was flushed again at 70° C. with hot tap water before freezing (3×with ca. 800 ml) (cf. Table 2).

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         List of Samples                                                                                 Wheat    Buckwheat  Quinos                                    ______________________________________                                         Seed             WS0      BS0        OS0                                       Germination with WS1      BS1        QS1                                       distilled water                                                                Plant embryos washed hot                                                                        WS1H     BS1H       QS1H                                      Germination with tap water                                                                      WS2      BS2        QS2                                       Plant embroyos washed hot                                                                       WS2H     BSH        QS2H                                      Germination with electro-                                                                       WS3      BS3        QS0                                       lyle solution 1                                                                Plant embryos washed hot                                                                        WS3H     BS3H       QS3H                                      Germination with electro-                                                                       WS4      BS4        QS4                                       lyle solution 2                                                                Plant embryos washed hot                                                                        WS4H     BSH        QS4H                                      Germination with electro-                                                                       WS5      BS5        QS5                                       lyle solution 3                                                                Plant embryos washed hot                                                                        WS5H     BS5H       QS5H                                      ______________________________________                                    

1.2 Preparing the Samples

The samples were dried in a freeze-drying installation (CHRIST ALFA 1-4 with installation control LDC-1M) as follows: The plant embryos (50 g each) were first deep-frozen at -30° C. (top-opening freezer) and subsequently at -45° C. (condenser space of the freeze-drying installation). This was followed by the main drying at -15° C. and at a pressure of 0.31 mbar (safety pressure 5 mbar). After 36 h the drying temperature (temperature of the sample dish of the installation) was raised to 0° C. After a total time of 72 h, the samples were completely dry and could be used to be further prepared. During the complete drying process it was made sure that the samples were never thawed. The dry plant embryos subsequently were homogenized in a contamination-free analysis mill (Retsch ZM 1000, with titanium rotor and titanium sieve; grain size 0.25 mm).

1.3 Determination of the Trace Element Concentrations with ICP-MS and GFAAS

Mineralization

Samples weighing approximately 200 mg were exactly weighed into a teflon vessel, admixed with 3 ml double distilled HNO₃, and 0.5 ml H₂ O and mineralized in the microwave disintegration apparatus (MLS, 1200 mega, equipped with a rotor for 10 samples) with the following energy program: 2 min 250 W, 0.5 min 0 W, 10 min 250 W, 0.5 min 0 W, 5 min 450 W, 0.5 min 0 W, 7 min 600 W, 1 min 500 W. After cooling, the disintegration solutions were transferred to measurement flasks (10 ml) and filled up with H₂ O nanopur. Two disintegrations were made of each sample. Each disintegration solution was measured three times, the measured concentrations being corrected with the concentrations of a disintegration blank. In parallel to the samples, two standard reference materials having a similar matrix composition (SRM-NIST 1575 Pine Needles and SRM-BCR 62 Olive Leaves) were analyzed to check the correctness of the analysis.

Measurement with GFAAS

The selenium and arsenic concentrations were determined by means of a Hitachi Z9000 GFAAS. The experimental conditions are summarized in Table 3. Quantitation was effected by means of external calibration curves.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Experimental parameters for Determining the Sc                                 and As Concentrations with GFAAS                                               ______________________________________                                                   Sc         As         Sc/As                                          ______________________________________                                         Lamp current                                                                             12 mA      12 mA      Standard 1                                                                             0 μg/l                              Wavelength                                                                               195 nm     196        Standard 2                                                                             20 μg/l                             Slit      1.2 nm     1.3 nm     Standard 3                                                                             50 μg/l                             Cuvelle   tube       tube       Standard 4                                                                            100 μg/l                             Modified  25% Ni(NO.sub.2).sub.2                                                                    25% Ni(NO.sub.2).sub.2                                                                    Standard 5                                                                            200 μg/l                             Volume    20 μl   20 μl                                                  ______________________________________                                         Temperature Program                                                                           Sc                   As                                         ______________________________________                                         Dry    80° C.                                                                           120° C.                                                                         30 s  80° C.                                                                         120° C.                                                                       30 s                                Dry    120° C.                                                                          400° C.                                                                         30 s  120° C.                                                                        500° C.                                                                       20 s                                Ash    200° C.                                                                          700° C.                                                                         10 s  800° C.                                                                        800° C.                                                                       30 s                                Atom  2400° C.                                                                         2400° C.                                                                         10 s 2000° C.                                                                       2000° C.                                                                       10 s                                Clean 3000° C.                                                                         3000° C.                                                                          5 s 3000° C.                                                                       3000° C.                                                                        5 s                                Carrier gas    200 ml/min                                                                               200 ml/min                                            Interrupted gas                                                                                30 ml/min                                                                                30 ml/min                                            ______________________________________                                    

Measurement with ICP-MS

Measurement of the concentrations of the trace elements Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr, Li, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cd, Co, Mo and V was carried out with an ICP-MS of Fisons, type: PlasmaQuad II+. The experimental parameters are summarized in Table 4. Before the measurement, the disintegration solutions were diluted 1:5 with H₂ O. To correct internal equipment fluctuations, 50 ppb indium, 50 ppb gallium and 50 ppb rhenium were added to the disintegration solutions and to the standard solutions as an internal standard. Quantitation was effected by means of external calibration curves.

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         Experimental Parameters for Determining the                                    Trace Element Concentrations with ICP-MS                                       ICP-MS plasma Quad II+                                                         ______________________________________                                         rf Power    1.3 kW      Time/Sweep 1.22 g                                      Colting gas 13.5 l/min  Dwell time pulse count                                                                    mode 320 μs                              Auxiliary gas                                                                              1.1 l/min   Data acqui peak jump                                                           sition     mode                                        Nebulizer gas                                                                              0.88 l/min  Uptake time                                                                               60 g                                        Nebulizer   Meinhard    Measuring time                                                                            3 × 60 g                                          Tr-30-A3                                                           Spray chamber                                                                              double pass Wash time  60 g                                                    Scoll type                                                                     (-2° C.)                                                    Sampling cone                                                                              Nickel,                                                                        orifice 1.00 mm                                                    Skimmer conc                                                                               Nickel,     Standard 1 black                                                   orifice 0.75 mm                                                    Vacuum: expansion                                                                          1.6 mbar    Standard 2 5 μg/l                                   Vacuum: inter-                                                                             1.0 × 10.sup.-4  mbar                                                                Standard 3 10 μg/l                                  mediate                                                                        Vacuum: analyzer                                                                           2.1 × 10.sup.6  mbar                                                                 Standard 4 50 μg/l                                  ______________________________________                                    

The results are summarized in Tables 5 and 6 along with FIGS. 1-3. From these it appears clearly that the germination of the seeds in an electrolyte solution leads to a marked increase in the electrolyte content of the plant embryos, while for many anion species germination in distilled water or in tap water, respectively, resulted in a decline of the concentration of this ion species.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Trace Element Concentrations in Wheat,                                         Buckwheat and Quinon Seeds and Plant Embryos                                   Data in mg/kg dry weight                                                       ______________________________________                                              WS0      WS1      WS2   WS3    WS4   WS5                                  ______________________________________                                         Li   0.50     <0.01    <0.01 3.80   24.2  64.3                                 V    0.53     1.747    0.63  0.99   3.11  6.03                                 Cr       0.63    0.50     0.72                                                                                 0.95                                                                                  2.10                                                                                 4.58                              Fe    53.2       54.1     63.0                                                                                 70.0                                                                                  108                                                                                  146                               Mn    20.9       26.8     20.1                                                                                 35.8                                                                                  83.4                                                                                 120                               Co    0.06       0.01     <0.01                                                                               0.96    4.80                                                                                 9.82                              Ni    0.05       0.16     0.14                                                                                 0.23                                                                                  0.50                                                                                 0.64                              Cu    4.68       4.80     4.76                                                                                 7.88                                                                                  23.9                                                                                 44.4                              Zn    28.6       33.9     29.5                                                                                 41.2                                                                                  95.2                                                                                 155                               As    <0.3      <0.3     <0.3                                                                                 <0.3   1.1    4.5                               Se    <0.3      <0.3     <0.3                                                                                 <0.3   1.7    5.4                               Sr    1.93       1.50     1.21                                                                                 8.60                                                                                  50.2                                                                                 107                               Mn    1.08       1.00     1.01                                                                                 1.28                                                                                  3.10                                                                                 6.26                              Cd    0.04       0.05     0.05                                                                                 0.06                                                                                  0.06                                                                                 0.06                              Ph    0.04       0.09     0.05                                                                                 0.16                                                                                  0.04                                                                                 0.02                              ______________________________________                                               BS0        BS1      BS2                                                                                  BS3    BS4                                                                                  BS5                               ______________________________________                                         Li    0.19       0.09     0.05                                                                                 5.25                                                                                  39.8                                                                                 164                               V     0.27       0.17     0.50                                                                                 0.44                                                                                  3.21                                                                                 11.4                              Cr    0.98       0.84     1.08                                                                                 0.98                                                                                  3.67                                                                                 11.9                              Fe    67.0       74.5     79.5                                                                                 71.4                                                                                  125                                                                                  280                               Mn    16.2       18.8     19.2                                                                                 24.6                                                                                  68.5                                                                                 184                               Co    0.07       0.09     0.09                                                                                 0.76                                                                                  5.56                                                                                 18.2                              Ni    3.14       4.18     3.56                                                                                 3.25                                                                                  3.58                                                                                 3.99                              Cu    7.29       9.18     8.60                                                                                 9.73                                                                                  26.2                                                                                 71.3                              Zn    25.8       38.6     32.6                                                                                 38.2                                                                                  98.7                                                                                 247                               As    <0.3      <0.3     <0.3                                                                                 <0.3   3.0    9.6                               Sc    0.3        0.3      0.3                                                                                  0.5    3.4                                                                                  14.7                              Sr    0.47       0.94     0.42                                                                                 6.80                                                                                  49.2                                                                                 181                               Mo    0.73       0.97     0.91                                                                                 1.21                                                                                  4.07                                                                                 17.0                              Cd    0.06       0.08     0.06                                                                                 0.07                                                                                  0.08                                                                                 0.13                              Ph    <0.01     0.05      0.08                                                                                 0.03                                                                                  0.03                                                                                 0.06                              ______________________________________                                               QS0        QS1      QS2                                                                                  QS3    QS4                                                                                  QS5                               ______________________________________                                         Li    5.55       2.15     2.79                                                                                 7.18                                                                                  64.4                                                                                 244                               V     0.44       0.47     6.45                                                                                 0.58                                                                                  3.75                                                                                 13.0                              Cr    0.82       1.13     0.94                                                                                 1.21                                                                                  4.26                                                                                 12.8                              Fe    84.3       89.7     85.7                                                                                 101    176                                                                                  375                               Mn    20.0       16.5     18.7                                                                                 11.2                                                                                  78.9                                                                                 287                               Co    0.05       0.06     0.05                                                                                 0.97                                                                                  7.30                                                                                 26.2                              Ni    0.12       0.10     0.08                                                                                 0.09                                                                                  0.52                                                                                 1.52                              Cu    5.88       7.68     7.31                                                                                 11.9                                                                                  42.4                                                                                 123                               Zn    27.1       37.3     31.6                                                                                 42.0                                                                                  138                                                                                  419                               As    <0.3      <0.3     <0.3                                                                                 0.4     3.7                                                                                  10.8                              Se    <0.3      <0.3     <0.3                                                                                 <0.3   4      18.5                              Sr    3.16       4.46     4.11                                                                                 14.0                                                                                  55.7                                                                                 252                               Mo    0.52       0.49     0.46                                                                                 0.70                                                                                  3.34                                                                                 15.7                              Cd    0.07       0.06     0.08                                                                                 0.05                                                                                  0.09                                                                                 0.15                              Pb   0.03        0.12     0.10                                                                                        0.08                                                                                0.07                               ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 6                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Trace element concentration in seeds and in plant embryos after                washing with hot water Data in mg/kg dry weight                                __________________________________________________________________________       WS5 WS5H                                                                               BS5 BS5H                                                                               QS5 QS5H                                                                               WS1H                                                                               WS2H                                                                               WS3H                                         __________________________________________________________________________     Li                                                                                 64.3                                                                                 56.6                                                                                130                                                                                 244                                                                                138                                                                                 0.18                                                                                0.06                                                                            2.64                                        V   6.03                                                                                 5.27                                                                                1624                                                                                13.0                                                                               10.2                                                                                1.52                                                                                0.78                                                                            1.15                                        Cr                                                                                 4.58                                                                                 4.44                                                                                11.3                                                                                12.8                                                                               10.4                                                                                0.84                                                                                0.72                                                                            0.82                                        Fe                                                                                 146                                                                                  171                                                                                 2590                                                                                375                                                                                332                                                                                 74.0                                                                                56.7                                                                            42.0                                        Mn                                                                                 129                                                                                  134                                                                                 1544                                                                                287                                                                                244                                                                                 27.0                                                                                28.1                                                                            31.3                                        Co                                                                                 9.82                                                                                 9.83                                                                                12.7                                                                                26.2                                                                               20.3                                                                                0.01                                                                                0.00                                                                            0.66                                        Ni                                                                                 0.64                                                                                 0.77                                                                                3.22                                                                                1.52                                                                               1.27                                                                                0.09                                                                                0.05                                                                            0.17                                        Co                                                                                 44.4                                                                                 44.3                                                                                61.7                                                                                123                                                                                102                                                                                 4.87                                                                                4.31                                                                            6.31                                        Zn                                                                                 155                                                                                  165                                                                                 2037                                                                                419                                                                                372                                                                                 35.2                                                                                28.2                                                                           35.0                                         As                                                                                 4.5                                                                                  3.3                                                                                 8.26                                                                                10.8                                                                               9.3                                                                                 <0.3                                                                             <0.3                                                                               <0.3                                        Sc                                                                                 5.4                                                                                  5.0                                                                                 12.27                                                                               18.5                                                                               14.1                                                                                <0.3                                                                             <0.3                                                                               <0.3                                        Sr                                                                                 107                                                                                  106                                                                                 1551                                                                                252                                                                                221                                                                                 1.57                                                                                1.15                                                                            6.48                                        Mo                                                                                 6.26                                                                                 5.90                                                                                20.0                                                                                15.7                                                                               9.40                                                                                1.02                                                                                1.01                                                                            1.21                                        Cd                                                                                 0.06                                                                                 0.07                                                                                0.12                                                                                0.15                                                                               0.03                                                                                0.04                                                                                0.04                                                                            0.05                                        Ph                                                                                 0.02                                                                                 0.02                                                                                0.10                                                                                0.07                                                                               0.05                                                                                0.07                                                                                0.04                                                                            0.07                                        __________________________________________________________________________         WS4H                                                                                 BS1H                                                                                BS3H                                                                                BS4H                                                                               QS1H                                                                                QS2H                                                                                QS3H                                                                            QS4H                                        __________________________________________________________________________     Li                                                                                 18.50                                                                               0.57                                                                                 5.16                                                                                35.20                                                                             2.34                                                                                 2.80                                                                                5.47                                                                            30.23                                       V   2.62                                                                                 0.04                                                                                0.32                                                                                3.73                                                                               0.12                                                                                0.40                                                                                0.60                                                                            2.80                                        Cr                                                                                 1.84                                                                                 0.89                                                                                0.94                                                                                3.65                                                                               0.69                                                                                0.80                                                                                1.17                                                                            3.97                                        Fe                                                                                 90.5                                                                                 74.9                                                                                60.1                                                                                115.8                                                                             84.0                                                                                 107.0                                                                              115.0                                                                            195.0                                       Mn                                                                                 75.6                                                                                 18.6                                                                                245.4                                                                               64.2                                                                               15.4                                                                                20.0                                                                                11.1                                                                            74.0                                        Co                                                                                 4.20                                                                                 0.09                                                                                0.74                                                                                4.40                                                                               0.05                                                                                0.05                                                                                0.89                                                                            6.50                                        Ni                                                                                 0.34                                                                                 3.96                                                                                2.98                                                                                2.84                                                                               0.47                                                                                0.67                                                                                0.59                                                                            0.76                                        Co                                                                                 21.00                                                                               9.23                                                                                 9.89                                                                                24.93                                                                             6.97                                                                                 7.43                                                                                12.00                                                                           44.45                                       Zn                                                                                 85.5                                                                                 38.1                                                                                38.9                                                                                92.7                                                                               35.2                                                                                33.2                                                                                41.1                                                                            137.0                                       As                                                                                 0.8                                                                                  <0.3                                                                             <0.3                                                                              <0.3                                                                              2.50                                                                                 <0.3                                                                             <0.3                                                                                <0.3                                                                               3.10                                        Sc                                                                                 1.5                                                                                  0.50                                                                                0.50                                                                                3.00                                                                               <0.3                                                                             <0.3                                                                                <0.3                                                                               3.40                                        Sr                                                                                 14.80                                                                               1.04                                                                                 7.25                                                                                49.70                                                                             3.85                                                                                 3.95                                                                                13.50                                                                           55.60                                       Mo                                                                                 2.62                                                                                 1.09                                                                                1.25                                                                                3.97                                                                               0.52                                                                                0.53                                                                                0.67                                                                            2.56                                        Cd                                                                                 0.05                                                                                 0.08                                                                                0.06                                                                                0.07                                                                               0.05                                                                                0.07                                                                                0.12                                                                            0.11                                        Ph                                                                                 0.02                                                                                 0.05                                                                               0.075                                                                               0.04                                                                                0.10                                                                               0.11                                                                                 0.09                                                                                 0.06                                   __________________________________________________________________________

Determination of the Ascorbic Acid Concentration During Germination of Quinoa

For this test, quinoa seeds were germinated in distilled water (QS1, QS1H), tap water (QS2, QS2H) and electrolyte solutions 2 (QS4, QS4H) and 3 (QS5, QS5H), respectively.

2.1 Extraction

Approximately 0.8 g of sample were exactly weighed into a 12 ml centrifuge tube and admixed with 5 ml extraction solution (5% meta-phosphoric acid, 8% acetic acid and 0.005M EDTA). Subsequently, the tube was tightly sealed and intensively shaken for 4 minutes. After the extraction, the sample solution was centrifuged for 5 min at 10000 rpm. Prior to HPLC analysis, the clear supernatant solution was filtered through an 0.2 μm cellulose nitrate filter.

2.2. HPLC Analysis

The vitamin C concentration was determined by means of ion pair reversed phase HPLC and UV detection at 265 nm. The chromatographic parameters are summarized in Table 7. Quantitation was effected by means of an external calibration curve. A 1000 mg/l stock solution (100 mg vitamin C (Merck p.a.) in 100 ml extraction solution) was used as the standard solution. The standards for the calibration curve (20, 50 and 100 mg/l) were prepared by respective dilutions with the extraction solution.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         Chromatographic Parameters for Determining                                     Vitamin C                                                                      ______________________________________                                         Column:        Hamilton PRP1; 10 μm, 4 × 250 mm                       Mobile phase:  0.2M Na acetate;                                                               5 mM tetrahexyl ammonium bromide                                               (THAB), pH 4.80                                                 Flow rate:     1.5 ml/min (2000 psi)                                           Injection volume:                                                                             100 μl                                                       Injection: UV 265 nm                                                           ______________________________________                                    

The results are shown in Table 8. Hence follows that the vitamin C concentration of the plant embryos increased in seeds germinated in electrolyte.

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                         Vitamin C Concentrations in Quinos Seeds                                       and Plant Embryos                                                                     Quinos                                                                               e [mg/100 g]                                                      ______________________________________                                                QS0   n.m.                                                                     QS1   6.0                                                                      QS1H  3.5                                                                      QS2   7.4                                                                      QS2H  2.9                                                                      QS4   7.9                                                                      QS4H  3.2                                                                      QS5   6.7                                                                      QS5H  4.2                                                               ______________________________________                                          n.m. = not measured                                                      

3. Determination of the thiamin concentration in mung bean, fenugreek and radish seeds were soaked in tap water (MS2, BoS2, RS2) and in an electrolyte solution 4 according to Table 9 (MS6, BoS6, RS6) for 10 to 12 hours. After soaking, germination took place at room temperature and normal day-night light ratios in commercial germinators comprised of transparent, superimposed plastics dishes with drainage means. The germination time was 3 days on an average; the plant embryos were thoroughly washed twice per day with tap water. After the germination, the samples were directly filled into plastic bags and deep-frozen.

Before drying, the samples of the plant embryos treated with electrolyte solution 4 were washed three times with tap water and subsequently three times with triple-distilled water. The plant embryos germinated in tap water were dried directly, without an additional treatment. Drying was effected according to item 1.2.

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         Trace Element and Mineral Concentration of                                     the Electrolyte Solution (Electrolyte Solution 4) Used                         for Germination for Thiamin Concentration. (When                               dissolved in tap water, a precipitate forms).                                  Substance     e[mg/l]    Element  e[mg/l]                                      ______________________________________                                         Potassium hydrogen                                                                           1605.6     K        720                                          phosphate                                                                      Magnesium phosphate                                                                          708        Mg       100                                          30% H.sub.2 O                                                                  Zinc sulfate × 7H.sub.2 O                                                              22         Zn       5                                            Ferrous glucomate                                                                            44.7       Fe       5                                            Manganese chloride                                                                           29.5       Mn       10                                           Copper glucomate                                                                             71.4       Cu       10                                           Sodium selenite                                                                              0.33       Se       0.10                                         Sodium molybdate                                                                             0.25       Mn       0.10                                         Chromic chloride                                                                             0.51       Cr       0.10                                         Strontium lactate                                                                            16.85      Sr       5                                            Lithium carbonate                                                                            26.75      Li       5                                            ______________________________________                                    

3.2 Analysis Procedure

Of all samples, two determinations each were carried out.

Hydrolysis and Enzymatic Splitting

Prior to hydrolysis, the dried samples were homogenized in an analyzing mill (Retsch). Subsequently, 0.50 g sample were exactly weighed into a 12 ml centrifuge tube (Pyrex). 8.5 ml 9.1M HCl were added to the sample; the tubes were tightly sealed and kept in a water-bath at 100° C. for 30 min and shaken several times. After cooling of the tubes, 0.5 ml 2.5M sodium acetate solution were added to the strongly acidic solution. Thereby, the pH was adjusted to a value of 4.5-4.6. Thereafter, 1 ml of the enzyme suspension (1 g diastasis, Merck 1.03604, in 10 ml H₂ O+1 drop of antifoaming agent) were added, and the sample was shaken over night at room temperature.

Oxidation of the Thiamine into Thiochromium

Following the enzymatic splitting, the sample solution was centrifuged for 20 min at 3000 rpm. 1 ml of the supernatant solution was pipetted into a polystyrene tube. 0.5 ml oxidating agent (1 ml of a 1% K₃ [Fe(CN)₆ ]solution+10 ml 15% NaOH) was added to this solution and mixed thoroughly (drawing up 5 times with an 0.5 ml transfer pipette). Thereafter the oxidation reaction was stopped by neutralizing with 0.2 ml 40% phosphoric acid (H₃ PO₄ 80%: H₂ O 1:1 v/v).

HPLC Analysis

Prior to the chromatographic separation, the oxidated sample solutions were centrifuged for 10 min at 10000 rpm. The clear solutions were used for the analysis without a further treatment. The chromatographic parameters are summarized in Table 10.

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                         Chromatographic Parameters for                                                 Determining Thiamine                                                           ______________________________________                                         Column:        Hamilton PRP1; 10 μm, 4 × 250 mm                       Mobile phase:  H.sub.2 O:MeOH 60:40 v/v                                        Flow rate:     1 ml/min (2500 psi)                                             Injection volume:                                                                             100 μl                                                       Detector:      Fluoroazonz 375/435                                             ______________________________________                                    

Preparation of the Standard Solution

As the stock solution, approximately 100 mg thiamine hydrochloride (Fluka 95160) were weighed exactly into a 50 ml volumetric flask. The latter was filled up to the 50 ml mark and thoroughly shaken. For quantitation by means of HPLC, this solution was diluted 1:1000 and subsequently oxidated with potassium hexacyanoferrate analogously to the sample solutions. To provide the calibration curve, the oxidated solution was diluted once more 1:1 and 1:3 with water.

3.3 Results

In FIG. 4 the chromatograms of a standard solution (104 μg/l) and of the sample BoS6 (fenugreek embryos) can be seen. The peak after 10 min corresponds to the thiochromium (oxidated and strongly fluorescent form of the thiamine). The thiamine concentrations of the individual samples are summarized in Table 11.

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                         Thiamine Concentrations (Base on                                               Thiamine Hydrochloride) in Plant Embryos and Seeds;                             Concentration DSata in mg/100 g.                                              Mung Bean        Fenugreek    Radish                                           Sample                                                                               Vit. B.sub.1                                                                              Sample  Vit. B.sub.1                                                                           Sample                                                                               Vit. B.sub.1                            ______________________________________                                         MS0   0.03       BoS0    <0.021  RS0   n.d.                                    MS2   0.02       BoS2    0.05    RS2   <0.02                                   MS6   0.08       BoS6    0.21    RS6   0.02                                    ______________________________________                                    

During the germination of fenugreek, a marked increase in the thiamin concentration could be observed. In the seed, practically no vitamin B₁ could be detected (<0.02 mg/100 g), while up to 0.21 mg/100 g vitamin B₁ was present in the plant embryos. Likewise, the thiamin concentration in the mung bean sample increased during germination. What is striking is that the plant embryos of the electrolyte solution exhibit a much higher increase as compared to the plant embryos of the tap water.

The radish embryos contained only a very slight amount of thiamine. Therefore, it could not be determined whether or not the thiamine concentration for RS2 had decreased during germination thereof. However, an increase in the thiamine concentration in the sample RS6 could clearly be detected. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of producing electrolyte-enriched plant embryos comprising introducing germinative seeds comprising plant embryos into an electrolyte solution, and incubating said plant embryos in said electrolyte solution at a suitable temperature and for a period of time sufficient to attain an electrolyte enrichment within said plant embryos, wherein said electrolyte solution comprises:at least one of zinc, potassium, and magnesium ions; at least one of copper, manganese, strontium and lithium ions; and at least one of selenium, molybdenum, chromium, arsenic, vanadium and cobalt ions.
 2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plant embryos are selected from the group consisting of wheat, buckwheat, quinoa, mung bean, fenugreek; radish, alfalfa, maize, squash, rye, barley, rice, adzuki bean, pea, millet, chicken pea, cress, linseed, lentil, mustard, sesamum, soybean, sunflower and amaranth embryos.
 3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrolyte solution comprisesat least 1 mg/l of at least one of zinc, iron, potassium and magnesium ions, at least 0.5 mg/l of at least one of copper, manganese, strontium and lithium ions, at least 0.1 mg/l of at least one of selenium, molybdenum, chromium, arsenic, vanadium and cobalt ions.
 4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrolyte solution comprisesat least 10 mg/l of at least one zinc, iron, potassium and magnesium ions, at least 5 mg/l or at least one of copper, manganese, strontium and lithium ions, at least 1 mg/l of at least one of selenium, molybdenum, chromium, arsenic, vanadium and cobalt ions.
 5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrolyte solution comprisesat least 50 mg/l of at least one of zinc, iron, potassium and magnesium ions, at least 25 mg/l or at least one of copper, manganese, strontium and lithium ions, at least 5 mg/l of at least one of selenium, molybdenum, chromium, arsenic, vanadium and cobalt ions.
 6. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said suitable temperature for incubating said plant embryos ranges between 10° and 50° C.
 7. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said suitable temperature for incubating said plant embryos ranges between 20° and 30° C.
 8. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said period of time for incubating said plant embryos ranges from approximately 12 to 24 hours.
 9. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said period of time for incubating said plant embryos ranges from approximately 60 to 100 hours.
 10. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising washing and drying said incubated plant embryos.
 11. A method as set forth in claim 10, further comprising processing said washed and dried plant embryos in a manner suitable for sales purposes.
 12. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrolyte solution comprises at least 0.5 mg/l copper ions, 1 mg/l zinc ions, 0.1 mg/l cobalt ions.
 13. A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein said electrolyte solution further comprises at least 0.1 mg/l molybdenum ions, 0.5 mg/l lithium ions, 1 mg/l selenium ions and 1 mg/l vanadium ions. 